Mars' Claritas Fossae region is characterized by systems of "graben" running mainly north-west to south-east. A graben forms when a block of the planet's crust drops down between two faults, due to extension, or pulling, of the crust. This image was originally released July 13, 2011.
Mars’ Claritas Fossae region is characterized by systems of “graben” running mainly north-west to south-east. A graben forms when a block of the planet’s crust drops down between two faults, due to extension, or pulling, of the crust.
This image was originally released July 13, 2011.Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona